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Biomedical subjects

M E Fewster

Publications and source records attributed to M E Fewster.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1979

Measles antibodies and histocompatibility types in multiple sclerosis.

Measles antibody titres and HLA antigens were determined in 71 White and 11 Coloured multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and 71 White and 11 Coloured age and sex-matched controls. Measles antibody titres were determined by the hemagglutination inhibition test and HLA antigens were determined serologically by a micro-lymphocytotoxicity test. Measles antibody titres were significantly higher in MS than in control cases and this was true for both female and male patients. No association was observed between the HLA antigens, especially HLA-A3 or HLA-B7 and measles antibody titres in the sera of MS patients or controls.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1977

Histocompatibility types and measles antibodies in multiple sclerosis.

The relationship between HLA antigens and measles antibody titers was investigated in 105 multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. HLA antigens were determined serologically by a micro-lymphocytotoxicity test and measles antibody titers were determined by the hemagglutination inhibition test. There was an increased frequency of HLA-B7 and HLA-Bw35 antigens and a decreased frequency of HLA-A2, HLA-B12, and HLA-Bw40 antigens in MS. Measles antibody titers were significantly higher in MS than in control cases. In the MS patients, the chi-square test for homogeneity did not show any significant difference between the presence or absence of antigens HLA-A3, HLA-B7, HLA-B8 HLA-A2 or HLA-B12 when compared with measles antibody titers. The chi-square test for association did not show any significant difference between the presence or absence of these antigens compared with measles antibody titers above 1:64 or 1:128 or 1:256. However, there were significantly higher measles antibody geometric mean titers in MS patients with HLA-A3 antigen or lacking HLA-A2 antigen. In the case of HLA-A3, this was reflected in the female but not in the male patients. The increased measles HI antibody titer in MS may be related to the increased frequency of HLA-A3, or the decreased frequency of HLA-A2, or both.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMed1976

Lipid composition of myelin in multiple sclerosis.

Myelin was isolated from histologically normal white matter and plaques from MS patients and from white matter of neurologically normal controls. No difference was found in the total lipid content. There were no detectable deficits in MS myelin of phosphoglycerides, plasmalogens or sphingolipids. Gangliosides and lysolecithin were not detected. Analysis of the fatty aldehyde composition of the phosphoglycerides and the fatty acid composition of the cholesteryl esters, phosphoglycerides and sphingolipids did not show any differences between the normal and MS myelin.

Cerebrosides↗
PubMed1975

Oligodendroglial toxicity by serum and lymphocytes from patients with multiple sclerosis.

The gliotoxic effect of multiple sclerosis serums and lymphocytes was investigated by the measurement of Cr51 release from prelabeled bovine oligodendroglia. There was no difference in glial toxicity between multiple sclerosis patients and normal controls except for a depression of Cr51 release from bovine oligodendroglia in the presence of autologous serum plus lymphocytes in the multiple sclerosis patients compared with the normal controls. This correlated with the phase of the disease and may be due to the presence of a lymphotoxic factor in the active multiple sclerosis serums.

Animals↗
PubMed1975

In vitro study of bovine oligodendroglia.

Oligodendroglia were prepared by 'Ficoll' density gradient centrifugation from the centrum ovale of fetal and adult bovine brains. When cultivated in Rose Chambers, and provided an air bubble was included in the chamber during the cultivation, processes developed on cells around the circumference of the bubble. A sizeable air phase seems to be important for process formation in isolated bovine glial preparations. Various culture systems, media and additions to the cultures were examined for their effect on the behavior of the cultures. Fibroblast overgrowth occurred in oligodendroglial cultures from fetal brains in media supplemented with fetal bovine serum (FBS) but not in medium 199 supplemented with 2.5% FBS.

Animals↗
PubMed1974

Atypical demyelinating disease.

A 17 year old girl died after an illness characterized by progressive mental deterioration and severe myoclonic jerks. Extensive pathological, virological, and immunological studies failed to support the diagnosis of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis but were compatible with disseminated demyelinating disease. The spinal fluid was positive for measles virus antibodies when examined by the fluorescent antibody technique, by complement fixation, and by haemagglutination inhibition tests, but the antibody titres were not high. The concentration of vaccinia antibody in the serum was consistent with that found in the general population and none was detected in the spinal fluid. Animal and tissue culture studies failed to disclose a viral agent, but pathological sections revealed perivascular cellular infiltration, demyelination, rare inclusion bodies, and multinucleated giant cells. Although these studies were not definitive, a record of procedures used and results obtained, both positive and negative, may be helpful to other investigators interested in defining more accurately the clinical features and the pathogenesis of these diseases.

Adolescent↗